The Hongaku Jodo Lineage as a Complete System of Practice

-

 

Courtesy Nembutsu Art


The Hongaku Jodo lineage, grounded in Tendai Buddhism’s philosophy of hongaku shiso(“original enlightenment thought”), can be considered a complete system capable of leading one to enlightenment in this very body (sokushin jobutsu). This capability arises from its integration of doctrinal, meditative, and ritual elements that emphasize the immediacy of enlightenment and the Pure Land as a present reality.

However, this depends on the depth of one’s engagement with its practices, philosophical understanding, and the degree to which it integrates complementary esoteric and Pure Land methods. Below is an exploration of how Hongaku Jodo functions as a potentially complete system:

Philosophical Basis: Original Enlightenment

The core of Hongaku Jodo lies in the doctrine of hongaku shiso, which asserts:

  • All beings are inherently enlightened because they possess Buddha-nature.
  • Enlightenment is not something to be attained in the future but realized in the present moment by seeing through delusions and recognizing one’s true nature.

In this framework the Pure Land is not a distant paradise but an ever-present reality, accessible when one transcends dualistic thinking. Chanting the nembutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) is not merely a petition for rebirth in the Pure Land but a direct means of aligning oneself with the ultimate truth of Amida Buddha’s compassion and wisdom.

This non-dual perspective provides a robust doctrinal foundation for realizing enlightenment in this very body.

Integration of Esoteric Practices

The Hongaku Jodo lineage often incorporates esoteric practices from Tendai’s Taimitsutradition, which further enhances its capacity as a complete system:

  • Mantras and Visualization: Chanting the nembutsu can be understood as a mantra, and visualizing Amida Buddha and the Pure Land becomes a transformative meditative practice.
  • Rituals and Mudras: Esoteric rituals harmonize body, speech, and mind, facilitating deeper integration with Amida Buddha’s enlightened qualities.
  • Sokushin Jobutsu (Buddhahood in this very body): Esoteric practices aim to reveal the practitioner’s inherent Buddha-nature without relying on gradual, post-mortem liberation.

This synthesis of esotericism and Amidism aligns Hongaku Jodo with the Vajrayana and Shingon emphasis on immediate realization.

The Role of Faith and Devotion

While Hongaku Jodo emphasizes realization through non-duality and self-transcendence, it also preserves the devotional aspect of Pure Land practice. Faith in Amida Buddha’s vow becomes a way to dissolve the ego and trust in the universal nature of enlightenment. The act of chanting Namu Amida Butsu serves both as an affirmation of one’s Buddha-nature and as an expression of gratitude, further aligning the practitioner with the Pure Land as a state of mind.

This blend of faith (shinjin) and insight (prajna) ensures that the path is accessible to practitioners at all levels.

Practical Applications for Enlightenment in This Body

Through the integration of hongaku shiso and esoteric Pure Land practices, Hongaku Jodo offers a multi-dimensional path to immediate enlightenment.

  1. Meditative Practice: Visualization of Amida Buddha and the Pure Land anchors the practitioner in non-dual awareness, facilitating the recognition of inherent enlightenment.
  2. Mantric Devotion: Chanting the nembutsu as a mantra transcends verbal repetition, becoming a tool for transforming the practitioner’s consciousness and harmonizing it with enlightenment.
  3. Daily Life as Practice: Based on hongaku thought, every action in daily life can be seen as an expression of Buddha-nature. This view dissolves the boundary between sacred and mundane, making enlightenment a lived experience.
  4. Universal Accessibility: The teaching that all beings are already enlightened eliminates barriers to practice, empowering practitioners to realize their true nature without complex rituals or extensive philosophical study.

The Question of Completeness

While Hongaku Jodo has the philosophical and practical tools to lead one to enlightenment, whether it constitutes a complete system depends on the following considerations:

  • Personal Capacity: Realizing enlightenment in this very body depends on the practitioner’s understanding, faith or better, “confidence”, and effort. The doctrine of hongaku supports this realization, but the path requires commitment and proper guidance.
  • Systemic Coherence: Hongaku Jodo integrates faith-based Amidism with insight-oriented esotericism, making it a comprehensive path. However, the lack of emphasis on advanced esoteric techniques (e.g., subtle-body practices found in Vajrayana or Shingon) might make it less “technically” complete compared to those traditions.
  • Teacher-Student Transmission: The success of this path often depends on the guidance of a teacher who can transmit the teachings in an authentic and practical way.

Comparative Perspective

In comparison to other systems emphasizing enlightenment in this life:

  • Shingon Buddhism: Offers a highly systematized esoteric framework with elaborate rituals, visualizations, and deity practices explicitly designed for sokushin jobutsu.
  • Vajrayana Buddhism: Utilizes subtle-body techniques and complex meditative methods that Hongaku Jodo does not emphasize.
  • Zen Buddhism: Shares hongaku’s emphasis on the immediacy of enlightenment but focuses more on meditation (zazen) and koan practice.

Hongaku Jodo is unique in its blending of esoteric, devotional, and philosophical elements, making it a viable but less ritual-intensive alternative to these traditions.

The Hongaku Jodo lineage, with its foundation in hongaku shiso and integration of esoteric Pure Land practices, offers a theoretically complete system for realizing enlightenment in this very body. Its focus on the inherent enlightenment of all beings, coupled with practical methods such as the nembutsu, visualization, and devotional faith, ensures its accessibility and transformative potential.

While it may lack some of the technical complexities found in Vajrayana or Shingon, its simplicity and universality make it a profound and effective path for those seeking to awaken to their Buddha-nature in the here and now.

For more information click here

Popular posts from this blog

Pure Land Buddhism: Theory and Practice

-
Image
Introduction It is easy to critique Pure Land Buddhism in its current modus operandi. I do it myself. It’s an easy target because of its façade of superstition and magic, religious overtones and seemingly exotic teachings with its dependence on the “one true Buddha”. They really don’t say, “one true Buddha”, I sort of made that up myself. And it does seem sort of odd to walk into a Buddhist temple to find a very Protestant Christian looking and sounding service. But not all Pure Land schools operate the same way. Some are very “protestant like” and others are very traditional. It depends on which school is hosting the service.       Recently while presenting a talk on the Buddhist Doctrine of Mind at the Jung Center of Chicago a member of the audience came to me and said she had been studying Buddhism for 10 years and just could not understand the Pure Land Buddhists because they thought they could be saved by simply chanting “Amitabha Buddha” over and over again. “Who would
Read more

The Protection Wheel of Vajra Armor

-
Image
"As I explore the wilderness of my own body, I see I Am made of blood and bones, sunlight and water, pesticide and redwood humus, the fear and dreams of generations of ancestors, particles of exploded stars” I don’t now who actually said this but the quote is found on Pinterest in a dozen or so places. It is a wonderful “mantra” to use when reminding ourselves that our body is not who we are. Not are we our mind.   According to the Buddha, self is not truth. He declared," Where self is, truth is not. Where truth is, self is not. Self is the fleeting error of samsara; it is individual separateness and that egotism which begets envy and hatred." He defined self as "that yearning which seeks pleasure and lusts after vanity where as Truth is the correct comprehension of things, which is the permanent and everlasting, the real in all existence and the bliss of righteousness." The very existence of self is an illusion,. It is the Self, which through
Read more

A Little Something About Pure Land Buddhism

-
Image
Three Pure Land Sages Bishop Koshin Ogui of the Buddhist Churches of America introduced me to Pure Land Buddhism in the 1990s. He also recognized me as ordained clergy and gave me my Dharma name. At the time he was the Master at a Jodo Shin Temple in Cleveland. Ogui was also the Master at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Chicago. A remarkable man and teacher he was instrumental in my taking on the unified practice he held so dear. The emphasis of my practice varies with my needs. This is the way the Buddha taught. One size does not fit all any more than one tool in the box is sufficient for all jobs.   One of the main themes he emphasized was the unified practice. This is where Jodo and Zen are combined into one integrated whole. The Chinese invented this method thousand or so years ago. Tendai and its predecessor T’ien T’ai demanded this method of unifying practices. Since each being is unique, each being responds best to a unique practice.   Based on what I have lear
Read more